SACRAMENTO: GUARDS: GREIVIS VASQUEZ seems to have the edge in the point guard battle. He's a pass-first floor general who fits better in a lineup full of chuckers . . . ISAIAH THOMAS will have a major role whether he starts or not. He can score, and while his lack of size is a defensive liability, he makes up for it with harassing on-ball pressure . . . MARCUS THORNTON will eventually be relegated to a smaller role, but the gunning combo guard will get his minutes until Ben McLemore is ready . . . BEN MCLEMORE takes a lot of heat for his lack of assertiveness, but he can knock down corner threes and is an outstanding athlete, which is enough to make him a fine role player . . . JIMMER FREDETTE is kicking around as trade bait . . . Second-rounder RAY MCCALLUM should earn a bench role.FORWARDS: With his potential to be a solid defender, JASON THOMPSON is likely to retain his starting job. He's an afterthought on offense, though . . . LUC RICHARD MBAH A MOUTE seems like a natural to slide into the starting lineup. He can defend multiple spots and doesn't need touches on a team of players who do . . . CARL LANDRY could unseat Thompson. We see him in the same kind of bench role he had in Golden State. He's very good offensively and a relentless rebounder, but will struggle defensively against top-line forwards . . . JOHN SALMONS avoided the amnesty axe, though his role will likely be reduced again . . . Stretch four PATRICK PATTERSON is on the fringe of this rotation . . . Streaky shooting should have TRAVIS OUTLAW in and out of the rotation. CENTERS: The new regime of head coach Michael Malone will try again with DEMARCUS COUSINS, who continues to show flashes of dominance but too often plays and acts like a head case. He's playing for a contract, which would presumably have him on his best behavior . . . CHUCK HAYES will continue to be a second-unit glue guy at the four and five.

DALLAS: GUARDS: MONTA ELLIS slides into the 2-guard spot vacated by O.J. Mayo. He should benefit from the attention Dirk Nowitzki gets and from playing alongside a pure point guard . . . JOSE CALDERON is a defensive liability, but he should have the Mavs' offense running more smoothly . . . VINCE CARTER has become one of the league's better sixth men. He'll see plenty of minutes for a team that figures to frequently play small ball . . . When healthy, DEVIN HARRIS should be the defensive side of a platoon with Calderon . . . Israeli star GAL MEKEL should be able to help at both guard spots on a part-time basis . . . WAYNE ELLINGTON has yet to prove he can do anything with second-unit minutes . . . After breaking his foot, SHANE LARKIN is looking at a redshirt year. FORWARDS: Last season was a bit of a lost season for DIRK NOWITZKI, who missed the beginning of the year after knee surgery and didn't get going until late. Health, as well as the arrival of a true point guard in Jose Calderon, should allow him to bounce back nicely . . . SHAWN MARION had a nice resurgence last season, and he should have at least one good season left as he plays for another contract . . . JAE CROWDER has a chance to establish himself as the heir apparent to Marion. He's a hustle guy right now, and whether he can be more will depend on whether he develops his jump shot . . . RICKY LEDO was a favorite NBA draft sleeper for many experts. But while the skilled wing has NBA talent, he also has a reputation for being a bad seed. Ledo is almost certainly headed to the D-League for now. CENTERS: SAMUEL DALEMBERT is a sad consolation prize in the Dwight Howard derby. He'll likely step in as a starter . . . BRANDAN WRIGHT has never been able to overcome injuries. He could end up splitting time with Dalembert . . . DEJUAN BLAIR will provide energy and offense at the four and five . . . BERNARD JAMES should continue to develop as a rim protector.

The Dallas Mavericks' home dominance of the Sacramento Kings could be in jeopardy if DeMarcus Cousins is on the court.

Cousins could return from a four-game absence Friday night as the Kings try to end an 18-game slide in Dallas in a matchup of bad defensive teams.

The Mavericks' home win streak over Sacramento (15-30) is the longest such run in team history. The Kings' last road victory in the series was Feb. 27, 2003.

Dallas (26-21) won 15 of 16 overall in this series before losing 112-97 on Dec. 9. Cousins led the way with 32 points and 19 rebounds.

Sacramento is hopeful he will be back from a sprained left ankle.

Cousins is averaging team highs of 22.6 points and 11.6 rebounds. Only four players have more double-doubles than his 28.

Sacramento welcomed back Rudy Gay from a three-game absence Wednesday in its fifth straight loss, 99-89 at home to Memphis. Gay scored 23 points after being out with a strained left Achilles tendon, and was seen limping afterward.

"I kind of tweaked my foot a little bit more," said Gay, who expects to play Friday. "But it doesn't matter."

The problem for the Kings was a defensive effort that allowed the Grizzlies to shoot 54.7 percent. Sacramento is allowing opponents to average 104.7 points and shoot 46.9 percent - both are the NBA's third-worst marks.

"I told our team afterward that I am going to start playing guys who are willing to defend," coach Michael Malone said. "And if (we) are not ready to defend ... I can no longer be a hypocrite. I've been a hypocrite the whole year. I got the job in June and I preached defense and that's what I believe in. We're one of the worst defensive teams in the league."

Dallas also fits that description, allowing opponents to shoot 46.4 percent and average 102.7 points.

Defense was the major problem in the Mavericks' third loss in four games, 117-115 at home to Houston on Wednesday. They allowed a Rockets team playing without top scorer James Harden to shoot 55.4 percent - the worst mark versus Dallas all season.

"The defense was horrible all night," star Dirk Nowitzki told the Mavericks' official website. "I mean, every time down somebody was in the paint, laying the ball up or in transition, drives or pick-and-roll plays. I mean, if you give up 117 at the house, you're going to lose."

Nowitzki had one of his best efforts Wednesday with 38 points and a season-high 17 rebounds. Monta Ellis saw his streak of scoring in double figures end at 15 games as he had six points.

Ellis will be matched up at point guard with Isaiah Thomas, who had 24 points and 12 assists in the last meeting. Dallas shot 38.9 percent in that contest, marking one of four times this season that a Kings opponent has been held below 40.0.

"We can score with the best of them," Thomas said. "We're just not doing anything defensively."

Gay wasn't available in the first meeting since he was acquired from Toronto on that day. He can identify with the Kings' woes in Dallas, where he has lost 10 of 11 games.